About Sudan:
Sudan is the largest country in Africa, bordering the Arab societies of northern Africa and the societies south of the Sahara. Sudan's physical and social geography are diverse, including deserts, swamps and rainforests, and Africans (more than 50%), Arabs (40%), Muslims (70%) and people with other beliefs. Darfur is a region in western Sudan, bordering Chad.
There are at least 36 main tribes in Darfur, and people identify themselves as belonging to an Arab or non-Arab tribe. The three largest non-Arab tribes -those most directly in the genocide - are:
the Fur
the Zaghawa
the Massaleit
Both victims and perpetrators are largely devout followers of Sunni Islam. While conflict for scarce resources have been common in Darfur, it was only with the interference of the government in Khartoum (Sudan's Capital) that this conflict escalated into ethnic warfare.
History:
Throughout the 15th and 20th centuries, the northwestern region of Darfur was an independent kingdom. In 1899 Britain and Egypt assumed joint authority over Sudan, splitting the nation into two parts. In 1916 the British government annexed the kingdom of Darfur, but it was loosely controlled, and the British gradually withdrew from Sudan following World War 2. As the British withdrew, northern officials replaced British administrators in the south and in Darfur. Unfortunately, consolidation of political power in the northern city of Khartoum confirmed the distrust of the southern and western parts of the country, and in 1955 riots and rebellions began in the south. Sudan gained independence from Great Britain in 1956, and has since been embroiled in conflict.
In 1958, the national army took power, disabling political opposition and tempting to Islamize the south. A guerilla army was formed to resist northern aggression, and the conflict escalated into civil war. In 1964, the northern military was overthrown, however, there was no political settlement with the south and fighting continued. Foreign powers started to send money and weapons to the north, south, or both. The government forged close ties to the Soviet Union, while the southern rebels were supported by Israel and neighboring nations like the Congo, Uganda, and Ethiopia.
In 1971, a failed communist coup led to the loosening in relations between the Soviet Union and Khartoum, thus improving relationships between Sudan and the United States and Western Europe. In 1972 the Addis Ababa peace agreement was signed, sharing power and wealth between the two sides. Although, Darfur and other parts of Sudan were still desperately impoverished, and wealth and power were still largely centralized in Khartoum.
Power struggle continued and the Islamist pressure to overturn the peace agreement was heightened by the discovery of oil in southern Sudan. Northern troops soon took control of all oil rich territories, sending all profit to Khartoum. After an attempted 1983 mutiny, uprisings and desertions continued across southern Sudan, and the revels formed the Sudan People's Liberation Army. The Addis Ababa agreement was annulled and the north once again consolidated control. Later that year, Khartoum passed the "September Laws" that transformed Sudan into a Islamic state, imposing Sharia law on the entire country, and subjecting citizens to harsh punishments. Another civil war begain.
Conflict between the north and the south continuned, as the north continued to pursue a radical Islamic agenda, banning political opposition, dissolving parliament, arresting opposition leaders, and closing down the press. War with the SPLA intensified, and escalating violence and resentment in Darfur was ignored.
In the war with the SPLA, government planners devised a strategy that used ethnically based militias against the rebels and those who supported them in the south. They armed, trained, and logistically supported these militias, encouraging them to attack civilians from one of the main ethic groups within the SPLA. Abduction into slavery and the denial of humanitarian assistance, causing starvation, were also common over the last two decades in Sudan. In 1992-1993 over half a million people died of starvation in southeastern and southwestern Sudan.
Current Issues:
Starting in 1987, the first ethnic violence erupted in Darfur as the Fur, the largest group in Darfur and its traditional rules, were attacked by an Arab nomad militia known as the Janjaweed. Almost 3,000 people were killed, and 400 villages destroyed. In 1996 the government again armed Arab militias to attack the non-Arab Massaleit, killing hundreds of people and displacing 100,000. Violence increased, and in 2003 the people created Sudan Liberation Army to launch their first attacks on government outposts in Darfur. Since then the Janjaweed have been put to use by Khartoum to attack Darfur, which in turn allows deniability - atrocities committed in Darfur can be attributed to historic "tribal feuds", rather than the government's own aims.
By the end of 2003, the Sudanese military and Janjaweed militia had killed 70,000 people and driven more than ten times that many from their homes. Since then, survivors of the genocide have described similar attacks: Government aircrafts would bomb villages, and in the chaotic aftermath government troops and Janjaweed fighters would murder male survivors, rape women, burn and loot the homes, and drive any survivors into the hostile desert. Often even refugee camps are not safe havens, as refugees are attacked and raped while gathering firewood and other necessities. African Union peacekeeping troops have also been attacked. Since the genocide began, almost half a million people have been killed, and millions have been displaced.
International Intervention:
The two major issues facing the international community as it attempts to address the situation in Darfur are oil and terrorism. Oil production, largely by Chinese, Malaysian, Russian, and Canadian oil companies, has poured money into Khartoum, but most Sudanese remain desperately poor. Because many of these companies are from Russia and China, establishing a consensus on the UN Security Council with regards to this issue seems difficult. China, particularly, has used its position on the Security Council to protect the government of Sudan from sanctions and to prevent stronger action to end the atrocities in Darfur. This protection was offered despite Sudan's record on terrorism.
Sudanese government officials, who harbored Osama bin Laden from 1991-1996, are now cooperating with American counterterrorism authorities. Khartoum has concluded that the value of their counterterrorism information would cancel out American frustration and horror at the genocide in Darfur. So far, they have been largely correct, and this issue poses another problem at the UN.
Possible Solutions:
Even though both China and Russia have protected the Sudanese government, the people of Darfur should still be helped. If more international awareness where to arise, than political action might force the UN to take action. The UN then could:
Reaffirm the UNAMID (African Union/United Nations Hybrid opperation in Darfur) mandate to contribute to the restoration of necessary security conditions for the safe provisions of humanitarian assistance and to facilitate full humanitarian access throught Darfur and refugee camps
Request further provisions for the training of African troops to be involved in UNAMID forces
Call for an increase of at least 5000 African troops involved in the UNAMID mission
Authorize a change in the UNAMID mandate to make the protection of civilians in Darfur a responsibility
Urge the member nations to threaten to impose sanctions on Sudanese companies of choice, recommending the 131 Sudanese companies currently under sanctions with the United States, unless the Sudanese government agrees to allow UNAMID forces and NGO's into Darfur
Authorize an incentive of offering irrigation technologies, water purification technology, and financial assistance to individual tribes in the form of micro-credits to better the civilian quality of life only in UNAMID forces and NGO's are allowed into Darfur
Affirm the free movement of Non-Governmental Organizations into and out of Darfur with the protection of Sudanese approved UNAMID forces.
Affirm that a UNAMID committee should be established to review and inspect Sudanese refugee camps and decide on how funds are distributed in order to equalize and improve living conditions
Call upon the increase in financial assistance and aid of the provision of necessities required for human life.
Please take our Survey to let us know your thoughts:
About Sudan:
Sudan is the largest country in Africa, bordering the Arab societies of northern Africa and the societies south of the Sahara. Sudan's physical and social geography are diverse, including deserts, swamps and rainforests, and Africans (more than 50%), Arabs (40%), Muslims (70%) and people with other beliefs. Darfur is a region in western Sudan, bordering Chad.
There are at least 36 main tribes in Darfur, and people identify themselves as belonging to an Arab or non-Arab tribe. The three largest non-Arab tribes -those most directly in the genocide - are:
- the Fur
- the Zaghawa
- the Massaleit
Both victims and perpetrators are largely devout followers of Sunni Islam. While conflict for scarce resources have been common in Darfur, it was only with the interference of the government in Khartoum (Sudan's Capital) that this conflict escalated into ethnic warfare.History:
Throughout the 15th and 20th centuries, the northwestern region of Darfur was an independent kingdom. In 1899 Britain and Egypt assumed joint authority over Sudan, splitting the nation into two parts. In 1916 the British government annexed the kingdom of Darfur, but it was loosely controlled, and the British gradually withdrew from Sudan following World War 2. As the British withdrew, northern officials replaced British administrators in the south and in Darfur. Unfortunately, consolidation of political power in the northern city of Khartoum confirmed the distrust of the southern and western parts of the country, and in 1955 riots and rebellions began in the south. Sudan gained independence from Great Britain in 1956, and has since been embroiled in conflict.
In 1958, the national army took power, disabling political opposition and tempting to Islamize the south. A guerilla army was formed to resist northern aggression, and the conflict escalated into civil war. In 1964, the northern military was overthrown, however, there was no political settlement with the south and fighting continued. Foreign powers started to send money and weapons to the north, south, or both. The government forged close ties to the Soviet Union, while the southern rebels were supported by Israel and neighboring nations like the Congo, Uganda, and Ethiopia.
In 1971, a failed communist coup led to the loosening in relations between the Soviet Union and Khartoum, thus improving relationships between Sudan and the United States and Western Europe. In 1972 the Addis Ababa peace agreement was signed, sharing power and wealth between the two sides. Although, Darfur and other parts of Sudan were still desperately impoverished, and wealth and power were still largely centralized in Khartoum.
Power struggle continued and the Islamist pressure to overturn the peace agreement was heightened by the discovery of oil in southern Sudan. Northern troops soon took control of all oil rich territories, sending all profit to Khartoum. After an attempted 1983 mutiny, uprisings and desertions continued across southern Sudan, and the revels formed the Sudan People's Liberation Army. The Addis Ababa agreement was annulled and the north once again consolidated control. Later that year, Khartoum passed the "September Laws" that transformed Sudan into a Islamic state, imposing Sharia law on the entire country, and subjecting citizens to harsh punishments. Another civil war begain.
Conflict between the north and the south continuned, as the north continued to pursue a radical Islamic agenda, banning political opposition, dissolving parliament, arresting opposition leaders, and closing down the press. War with the SPLA intensified, and escalating violence and resentment in Darfur was ignored.
In the war with the SPLA, government planners devised a strategy that used ethnically based militias against the rebels and those who supported them in the south. They armed, trained, and logistically supported these militias, encouraging them to attack civilians from one of the main ethic groups within the SPLA. Abduction into slavery and the denial of humanitarian assistance, causing starvation, were also common over the last two decades in Sudan. In 1992-1993 over half a million people died of starvation in southeastern and southwestern Sudan.
Current Issues:
Starting in 1987, the first ethnic violence erupted in Darfur as the Fur, the largest group in Darfur and its traditional rules, were attacked by an Arab nomad militia known as the Janjaweed. Almost 3,000 people were killed, and 400 villages destroyed. In 1996 the government again armed Arab militias to attack the non-Arab Massaleit, killing hundreds of people and displacing 100,000. Violence increased, and in 2003 the people created Sudan Liberation Army to launch their first attacks on government outposts in Darfur. Since then the Janjaweed have been put to use by Khartoum to attack Darfur, which in turn allows deniability - atrocities committed in Darfur can be attributed to historic "tribal feuds", rather than the government's own aims.
By the end of 2003, the Sudanese military and Janjaweed militia had killed 70,000 people and driven more than ten times that many from their homes. Since then, survivors of the genocide have described similar attacks: Government aircrafts would bomb villages, and in the chaotic aftermath government troops and Janjaweed fighters would murder male survivors, rape women, burn and loot the homes, and drive any survivors into the hostile desert. Often even refugee camps are not safe havens, as refugees are attacked and raped while gathering firewood and other necessities. African Union peacekeeping troops have also been attacked. Since the genocide began, almost half a million people have been killed, and millions have been displaced.
International Intervention:
The two major issues facing the international community as it attempts to address the situation in Darfur are oil and terrorism. Oil production, largely by Chinese, Malaysian, Russian, and Canadian oil companies, has poured money into Khartoum, but most Sudanese remain desperately poor. Because many of these companies are from Russia and China, establishing a consensus on the UN Security Council with regards to this issue seems difficult. China, particularly, has used its position on the Security Council to protect the government of Sudan from sanctions and to prevent stronger action to end the atrocities in Darfur. This protection was offered despite Sudan's record on terrorism.
Sudanese government officials, who harbored Osama bin Laden from 1991-1996, are now cooperating with American counterterrorism authorities. Khartoum has concluded that the value of their counterterrorism information would cancel out American frustration and horror at the genocide in Darfur. So far, they have been largely correct, and this issue poses another problem at the UN.
Possible Solutions:
Even though both China and Russia have protected the Sudanese government, the people of Darfur should still be helped. If more international awareness where to arise, than political action might force the UN to take action. The UN then could:
Please take our Survey to let us know your thoughts:
http://aplac.darfurgenocide.sgizmo.com/ Survey
This is a video explaining the difficulties outside help has faced due to the stuborn Sudanese government
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6427391
Videos
http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?q=Darfur&scope=all&edition=d&tab=av&recipe=all
Child Pictures
http://www.hrw.org/photos/2005/darfur/drawings/10.htm
To learn more information on Sudan and help:
http://www.newint.org/features/2007/06/01/facts/
http://www.savedarfur.org/content?splash=yes
http://www.dosomething.org/tipsheets/darfur_facts
http://www.ushmm.org/conscience/?gclid=CJS4kdr91ZMCFQUjGgodqAjJhw